Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 783 A Young Girl's First Love, Matchmakers Arrive Naturally

Following the direction the little princess pointed out, it really was the little Miao siblings.

After not seeing each other for several months, the siblings, who are in the stage of growing up, have both changed quite a bit.

Xiao Miao has grown taller and taller, with the graceful bearing of a girl next door. Her simple high ponytail is tied behind her head, and she is dressed simply in a blue coarse cloth long-sleeved top, matching blue heeled trousers, and unadorned black cloth shoes. A light blue shoulder bag is slung across her waist.

She was at the age of blossoming youth, and now that life was better, she had gained more confidence and composure. Her delicate face and skin had a healthy blush, and even in simple clothes, she would not blend into the crowd on the street. Two beads of sweat on her forehead in the summer heat added to her positive outlook on life.

Fu Gui's changes were even more dramatic. A few years younger than Xiao Miao, he was a head taller than her. His tall and muscular build was already growing into a more robust man. At just over ten years old, he was already over 1.7 meters tall. Underneath his simple t-shirt and shorts were solid, yet not overly exaggerated, bronze muscles. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a square face, but his expression was dull and lacked the liveliness of a young man. He was rather rigid and followed behind Xiao Miao like a serious and dutiful bodyguard.

He carried a small wooden toolbox on his back. Anyone who passed by would stare blankly at him. His simple and honest face made most people instinctively avoid eye contact, and they felt a strange sense of dread. It was probably because people with mental problems naturally possessed a kind of 'deterrent power'.

"It really is Sister Xiaomiao! I never expected to meet them here. It's been a while since I've seen them. I'll give her a surprise. She'll be very surprised!" The little girl cheered, a bright smile spreading across her face, and she ran happily towards Xiaomiao and the others.

They were about the same age and came from similar backgrounds. After spending time together several times, they had become inseparable best friends. How could they not be happy to meet again?

Not long after Chen Xuan and his group left Lao Gao's place, it was clear that the residents of this area were all wealthy and powerful, and the Xiao Miao siblings would not usually come here. However, the fact that Fu Gui was carrying a toolbox showed that they were definitely not just there for a stroll.

Chen Xuan was also happy to see them and said with a smile, "Let's go, we'll go over too. We were planning to visit their house tomorrow, but plans really do change. I just hope we don't delay them."

Chen Xuan then looked at Xia Mei and said, "It wouldn't be right not to let you know. I reckon that once Xiao Miao sees us, she'll forget everything else. So, Aunt Mei, could you please arrange for someone to bring over some of the local specialties we bought along the way?"

"Understood," Xia Mei nodded and went to make the arrangements. She knew that her master didn't care about many people, but Xiao Miao and her brother were one of them, and he treated them like his younger brother and sister.

The little princess looked at the two siblings, Xiao Miao and her brother, and said with undisguised joy, "They seem to have been doing well lately; they've clearly grown taller."

She had always known that her husband took good care of Xiao Miao and her brother. He had mentioned it in his letters when they were still exchanging letters. In particular, the last time the two siblings traveled a long distance to Yang County to visit them, which made the little princess feel both heartache and gratitude.

Nodding, Chen Xuan seemed to remember something and said apologetically, "When I brought them back last time, I told them to keep in touch by letter, and that I would come to pick them up anytime they wanted to go to Yang County. I haven't received any letters from them for several months now, so I hope they won't overthink it."

"Husband, don't worry too much. Little Miao is very sensible. She'll explain everything later," the little princess comforted her.

The little girl had already approached the Xiao Miao siblings ahead, but she was spotted by Fu Gui when she was still a foot away. His blank expression made him almost subconsciously turn around to look, and all the muscles in his body tensed up.

Don't let his seemingly simple-minded appearance fool you; his martial arts skills are quite impressive. He's not very bright, and Chen Xuan only taught him some basic techniques in the past, but he persevered and practiced them to the point of near instinct. Compared to Chen Xuan's current level, he can control his skills at will, and even possesses a considerable amount of internal energy. It's not a top-tier technique, but it has already opened up a small portion of his eight extraordinary meridians, making him a formidable fighter in the martial arts world.

Wealth is like a blank sheet of paper; a simple mind is, in a way, a kind of talent. Being single-minded and tireless, one's progress in martial arts training is no less than that of some people with excellent aptitude.

Unfortunately, his not-so-bright mind was not suited to advanced techniques. Even if given them, he wouldn't be able to comprehend them. On the contrary, simple and basic techniques suited him better, and with perseverance, he could still make a name for himself.

When Fugui saw the little girl, his tense muscles instantly relaxed, and he gave a blank, kind smile. He might not be very bright, but he remembered every important person, almost as if they were engraved in his bones. He recognized the little girl and naturally wouldn't show any malice, but he didn't know how to express it, so he could only give a simple, honest smile.

Faced with Fu Gui's gaze, the little girl raised her finger in a shushing gesture, then stepped forward and covered Xiao Miao's eyes from behind, saying happily, "Guess who I am?"

Xiao Miao, whose eyes were covered, paused in her steps. The voice sounded so familiar, and she exclaimed excitedly, "Roujia, is that you?"

"Oh dear, it's not fun at all. Sister Miao guessed it right away. Aren't you surprised?" the little girl said with a grin, letting go of her eyes and grabbing Miao's hand with a joyful expression.

Xiao Miao was thrilled and exclaimed in surprise, "It really is Roujia! What are you doing here? Why aren't you with Brother Chen?"

As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously swept around, quickly locking onto Chen Xuan and the others who were following behind. Her eyes lit up instantly, unable to hide her joy, and she took a step to run over, but she stopped herself abruptly, looking down at her clothes, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Upon hearing this, the little girl pouted and smiled sweetly, teasingly saying, "Sister Miao, really, why can't I be here? Or is it that in your eyes only the master?"

"No, I was just a little surprised," Xiao Miao said, her cheeks flushed and her eyes darting around in a flustered manner, like a child caught doing something wrong.

Seeing this, the little girl lowered her body and looked at her face curiously, asking, "Sister Miao, why are you blushing? Is it because it's too hot?"

"Yes, yes, it is a bit hot," Xiao Miao said, her eyes darting around. She pretended to fan herself, but her eyes were always on Chen Xuan who was walking over.

A sly glint flashed in her eyes, and the little girl covered her mouth, teasing, "It's been so long since I've seen Sister Miao, yet you only seem to be watching Master. It really makes me sad."

"No, I didn't! Oh dear, Roujia, you've gone bad!" Xiao Miao said in a panic, quickly realizing she had been tricked.

As the two children greeted each other with laughter and pleasantries, Chen Xuan and the others also came over, greeting them with smiles: "Xiao Miao, long time no see! How have you been?"

"Brother Chen, Sister Qianning, it really is you! I almost thought I was dreaming. I've been doing very well lately. How are you doing?" Xiao Miao said excitedly, overjoyed.

The little princess stepped forward, took her hand, and said happily, "We're doing well too! It's been a while since we last met. Let me take a good look at you. Little Miao has grown so much; you're a big girl now!"

"It hasn't been that long, I've always been like this."

At this moment, Fugui looked at Chen Xuan and the others with a simple smile, and stammered, "Brother Chen... hello." It was clear that he was very excited, but he could hardly express his feelings at this moment.

Reaching out, Chen Xuan patted his shoulder and gave him an approving smile, nodding and saying, "Not bad, you've grown taller and stronger. Have you been protecting your sister well?"

"Yes!" He nodded emphatically, which was both an answer and an expression of his greatest joy at receiving Chen Xuan's affirmation.

After a brief exchange, her emotions calmed down a bit, and Xiao Miao mustered up her courage to look at Chen Xuan nervously and said, "Brother Chen, it's very hot outside. It's rare for you to come all this way, would you like to come to my house for a while?"

Nodding slightly, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Alright, if it won't disturb you and Xiao Miao while you're busy with your business."

"No way! There's nothing to do for the rest of the day. Brother Chen, come with me, we'll take the shortcut, it'll be quick," Xiao Miao said excitedly. Then she turned to Fu Gui and said, "Little brother, go buy the groceries, be quick, remember what I told you before?"

"Okay," Zhou Fugui nodded and ran off.

The siblings had been looking forward to Chen Xuan and his group's arrival. They had discussed it beforehand, and as soon as she mentioned Fugui, they knew what to do.

Everyone present understood the siblings' intentions. The little princess said apologetically, "Wouldn't this be too much trouble?"

"No way, I'm too happy to be out there," Xiao Miao smiled sweetly and led the way with cheerful steps.

Walking through a relatively secluded alley, Chen Xuan hesitated and said, "Xiao Miao, you're not a child anymore. Be careful when you're out and about. Try to avoid alleys like this in the future."

Xiao Miao smiled and said earnestly, "I know, Brother Chen. I always take the main roads when I go out, whether it's day or night, and I'm always with Fugui with me. I remember what you told me, so I won't go to dangerous places. I'm with you guys now, so I can walk less. I don't usually do this."

"That's good," Chen Xuan nodded, knowing she was a sensible girl, and then changed the subject, asking curiously, "Xiao Miao, I remember the place where we met earlier wasn't close to home, was it? Did you come here for something?"

With a smile, Xiao Miao cheerfully replied, "It's like this, Brother Chen. A few days ago, I took on a job. A wealthy family wanted to build a new house, so I took on the door and window contract. The client provided the materials, and I had them made at the shop before delivering and installing them. They came to measure the dimensions and confirm the style. It will probably take about three months to complete. They've already paid a deposit, and if the final payment is settled, I'll earn a total of one hundred taels."

You could tell she was very happy, full of positivity and satisfaction with life.

Earning 100 taels in three months is a huge sum for someone like Xiao Miao, who is at the bottom of society. Even if you take into account the wages of the shop's workers, you should know that the waiter at Deyuelou in Yang County only earns two qian of silver a month after working himself to the bone.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan was speechless and said, "Little Miao is really amazing. She's taken on a big job. It'll take three whole months. It must be very troublesome, right?"

Overjoyed at Chen Xuan's affirmation, Xiao Miao said shyly, "It's alright, not as amazing as Brother Chen made it out to be. For ordinary doors and windows, it wouldn't take three months to complete. It's just that the client requested intricately decorated windows, so it's not too much trouble. There's plenty of time."

"Little Miao already has this skill?" Chen Xuan asked, speechless, genuinely surprised.

He knew very well that decorative windows were not simply made of carved wood covered with paper. They involved processing and polishing seashells until they were as thin as cicada wings and translucent, then piecing together colorful patterns to create beautiful designs. These patterns were then installed on doors and windows, creating a stunning effect under the sunlight. It was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that most people could not afford.

"It's not that difficult. My master taught me well, and I've already mastered it. But there's still a lot of room for improvement," Xiao Miao said, waving her hand. Despite her words, she couldn't hide her confidence in her skills.

Carpenters in this era were not just skilled at hammering and nailing; they were masters of carving, fine arts, geometry, handcrafting, lacquerware, and more. Xiao Miao was already a master craftswoman at a young age and could take on jobs, which shows how hard she worked in previous years.

It's no exaggeration to say that with her skills alone, she could live a life of wealth and comfort without worrying about food or clothing. Back then, she was always struggling to make ends meet and had to bravely go to people's homes to help with chores just to get a bite to eat. Chen Xuan mentioned it to Master Fang, who then took her on as an apprentice. Now, she has finally made it through the tough times.

The group chatted and laughed as they walked through the streets and alleys, arriving at Xiao Miao's house in about half an hour.

Unlike when Chen Xuan first came to her house, the courtyard, though not demolished and rebuilt, has been completely renovated. It is no longer the low, dilapidated kind that would collapse in the wind. The windows are bright and clean, and every detail is ingeniously designed. It was definitely made by Xiaomiao. She is a carpenter herself and no one knows how much effort and sweat she has put in. You can even imagine her working day and night to perfect this house.

Before even reaching the door, Chen Xuan saw a brightly dressed middle-aged woman pacing back and forth in front of Xiao Miao's house, looking around suspiciously. Chen Xuan said in a daze, "Xiao Miao, it seems you have guests."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Miao subconsciously looked towards the door, her expression tightening, and she seemed inexplicably flustered. A flash of anger then appeared in her eyes as she cautiously shook her head at Chen Xuan, saying nervously, "Brother Chen, that's not a guest at all. I'll go and send her away right away. You've come all this way, you can't let unimportant people bother you."

After saying that, she hurriedly strode forward, her little fists clenched, which showed how bad she was feeling.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan and the little princess exchanged glances, already guessing what was going on.

The little princess frowned and said, "Xiao Miao has grown up, and some things will naturally come to pass. However, my husband treats her like a younger sister, and not just anyone can interfere. Her life and future are her own to decide, and we will all stand behind her and support her silently."

Nodding, Chen Xuan slowed his pace and said, "Xiao Miao is no longer a child. These kinds of things are inevitable. We just need to protect her and keep an eye on things for her. Let the rest take its course."

With her brows relaxed, the little princess carefully observed Chen Xuan's expression, then smiled and said nothing.

Seeing Xiao Miao storm off, the little girl said worriedly, "Sister Xiao Miao seems to be in a bad mood. Should we go over and check on her?"

"Don't make things worse, she'll handle it herself," Chen Xuan said, pulling the little girl aside and shaking his head.

...(End of this chapter)